Aberdeen Schools
Helping you stay informed about our district.
Aberdeen School District No. 5 -- June 11, 2020
Family input needed on the Reopening Plan
ASD5 wants to hear from our families as the Back-to-School plan is developed for the fall.
The survey will be open on Monday and we are aiming for a large response over two days -- Monday and Tuesday, June 22-23.
Parents will receive a link to the survey via Blackboard on Monday. If you don’t receive a link, check your school’s website and follow the prompts.
The Reopening Task Force, which includes staff, parents and community members, needs to hear from as many families as possible so that your input is part of the planning process.
We know there are families that want to remain distanced this fall, and that's OK. Critical to the planning is to know how many families will be comfortable sending their students back for in-person instruction given the requirements that must be met. It's a very short survey -- student name, last school attended, in-person or distance learning preference, and leaves room to share comments.
ATHLETICS
Summer Conditioning and Fall Sports
Summer Conditioning
The Aberdeen School District Athletic Department is offering a summer conditioning and weight lifting program for all incoming 7 – 12 student/athletes at Aberdeen High School. Now that we are in Phase III of the current Covid-19 pandemic, summer conditioning is scheduled to begin June 29 and end July 31.
Program hours will be announced on our District website and also shared through various social media outlets and coaches’ emails and apps.
Fall Sports
Aberdeen School District is planning to offer Fall Sports this coming school year.
With the recent development of our county now being in Phase III, along with the WIAA announcement, the state is moving forward with a plan to start Fall sports.
In early September, the Aberdeen District is looking forward to offering football, boys’ golf, tennis, cross country and girls’ swimming, soccer, volleyball and cross country. Football is slated to begin on September 5, with the other sports scheduled to start on Monday, September 7. Due to the nature of the Covid-19 virus, the Fall season could be changed at the State level, resulting in possible schedule changes.
It's important to note that some sports, such as Football, can only take place if our county is in Phase 4, but Athletic Director Aaron Roiko said our area looks to be on a path to Phase 4 sometime in August.
Informational site explains why districts like Aberdeen are hurting under "McCleary Fix"
These are uncertain times for all districts. Aberdeen is one of the districts hit hardest by the changes in school funding called the “McCleary Fix.” School finances are complicated, and in Aberdeen our situation has been worsened by declining enrollment the past two years, and then exacerbated by COVID-19.
Here is a link to information prepared by ESD 112 in Vancouver, Washington, that explains why some districts are struggling under the new funding model:
Getting to the core of school funding in our state
Here are links to two newspaper articles from elsewhere in the state showing it’s not just Aberdeen worried about funding for 2020-2021, or trying to figure out staffing needs for school in the fall.
Spokane: School Districts urge Legislature to preserve K-12 funding
Summer Breakfast & Lunch Program begins Monday
ASD5 students eligible for $399 grocery card
The most important thing to know about the P-EBT Program is that all students who were enrolled in the Aberdeen School District at the time of the closure in March are eligible for up to $399 to buy groceries. More information should come out later this month.
Families that don't already have a Basic Food EBT card from the state will need to apply at WashingtonConnections.org to receive their P-EBT debit card. The site will open later this month. The flow chart below explains more.
Watch for more information to be handed out with breakfast and lunch at the Food Service sites next week -- and again next week in this newsletter.
Aberdeen School District Board of Directors
Summary of the School Board meeting on June 16
2020-06-16 School Board Agenda (pdf)
President Sandra Bielski convened the regular meeting of the Aberdeen School District Board of Directors at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, 2020, via webinar following guidance for conducting remote meetings in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Directors present were Bill Dyer, Jennifer Durney, Jessica Jurasin and Suzy Ritter, along with Superintendent Alicia Henderson and up to 210 patrons and staff watching remotely.
The meeting began with the Flag salute.
Minutes, Bills, Trips & Gifts
The Board approved the Consent Agenda, which included:
- The minutes from the regular meeting on June 2, 2020;
- Payroll vouchers totaling $3,434,512.57; General Fund vouchers totaling $666,126.22;
- ASB Fund vouchers totaling 9,529.53;
- Private Purpose Trust Fund voucher in the amount of $401.62; and
- A gift to the district of a baby grand piano for the choir program from the estate of David Wilhelms.
Education of Our Students Week:
The board adopted Proclamation 2020-01 in appreciation of employees, parents and families for continuing to provide education to students during the state-ordered school closure and declaring the week of June 15-19 as The Education of Our Students Appreciation Week.
Letter of Support:
Board members read a Statement in Support of Superintendent Alicia Henderson and encouraging staff and community members to remain engaged and foster improved communication. Read the Letter
Public Comments
The board acknowledged written public comment from Alexa Amarok, Tiffany Burkett, Kati Hirschfeld, Alicia Morris, Public School Employees, Alisa Radonski, Chrissy Seguin, Tricia Sorensen and Kala Winter.
Superintendent’s Report
Graduation 2020:
Superintendent Henderson provided comment on the graduation parade for the Class of 2020, which was livestreamed on the district’s Facebook account.
Reopening Task Force: Superintendent Henderson reported that the Reopening Task Force has begun meeting, with all employee groups and representation from parents and the community encouraged to participate. Guidance on what will be required to open for in-person instruction in the fall continues to change, she said. She added that the goal in Aberdeen is to determine the requirements and cost for a safe reopening, while also continuing to improve and develop the distance learning model.
COVID-19 Response:
Superintendent Henderson reported that Food Service ends on Friday but Summer Food Service starts on Monday – limited times, same locations, in partnership with the YMCA and the City of Aberdeen.
She also reported that it’s been a steep climb to develop and implement the distance learning instructional program, but that staff has risen to the occasion and done an amazing job with the time invested in professional development to prepare for Fall with Canvas.
Last Day of School:
Superintendent Henderson reported the last day of school is Friday, with schools organizing virtual celebrations and organizing the return of devices.
P-EBT Meals Program:
Superintendent Henderson explained the P-EBT Emergency Meals Program through the state. All students who were enrolled in Aberdeen schools at the time of the closure are eligible for up to $399 in grocery assistance. Funds will be made available by June 30 or first week in July.
Fiscal Status Report
Executive Director of Business and Operations Elyssa Louderback presented the Fiscal Status Report for May. With 75 percent of the fiscal year elapsed, revenue is at 72.59 percent and expenditures are 72.62 percent.
2020-2021 Budget
Executive Director of Business and Operations Elyssa Louderback presented updated information about budget assumptions and a timeline for the public hearing and budget adoption. Of note, a final outreach to families, especially families who at last contact were not sure whether their students would return to school in the fall, has resulted in additional confirmations for attendance. The recommendation is to increase the enrollment projection to 3,114.
Canvas Presentation
Teaching and Learning Director Traci Sandstrom discussed Canvas, the new online learning platform that will position the district for various learning models – in-school, hybrid home and school, and distance learning. Teacher Kerry Tadique, kindergarten, and Ashley Emmett, Miller Junior High School, demonstrated their Canvas sites.
MTSS Presentation
Teaching and Learning Director Traci Sandstrom and Special Education Director Rick Bates discussed work taking place in the district on the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and how the district will be supporting student behavior.
New Instructional Materials
The Board adopted a textbook and two novels:
- Nursing Assisting: A Foundation in Caregiving by Diana L. Dugan and published by Hartman Publishing for use in the Twin Harbors Skills Center;
- Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly and published by Morrow/Harper Collins for use in English classes at Aberdeen High School, and
- The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien and published by mariner for use in English classes at Aberdeen High School.
2020-2029 Skills Center Agreement
The board approved renewal of the 10-year agreement establishing the Twin Harbors Branch of the New Market Skills Center. Lynn Green provided an overview of the program’s growth and noted this agreement adds Taholah as a participating district, making it 11 districts on the Twin Harbors whose students can access the career training at the Skills Center.
Personnel Report
Following an executive session, the board approved the following personnel matters:
1. Certificated and Classified matters
2. 2020-2021 Classified Staffing
3. Updated 2020-2021 PSE Salary Schedule
4. 2020-2021 Food Service & Transportation Salary Schedule
5. 2020-2021 Maintenance & Operations Salary Schedule
6. 2020-2021 Unaffiliated Salary Schedule
The board also completed the superintendent’s annual evaluation.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the board is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, 2020, to be conducted remotely with proper notice and access provided under the governor’s emergency provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act. There will not be a meeting on July 7.
Are the cuts necessary? Other districts don't seem to be making reductions
Will schools reopen in the fall?
Why did the district choose Canvas as the new learning platform?
Does the superintendent provide speech-therapy services?
Can the "fund balance" be used to avoid cuts?
You can find more FAQs on the ASD5 website.
Tune in for the year-end edition of the AJWest Wildcat Weekly
End-of-Year Information for Miller Junior High students
June 19 -- Last Day of School
The schedule for students to pick up and drop off items at Miller Junior High School will continue from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through tomorrow, June 19.
Please remain in your vehicles and maintain social distancing. Thanks in advance for your patience.
KINDERGARTEN & PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION
Update on Registration: Now that our school office coordinators are able to spend more time in the office due to the lifting of some restrictions, parents of future kindergartners and preschoolers will soon be contacted to complete the registration process. Thank you for your flexibility while our school offices get back up and running.
The district relies on grants for this program and needs solid information on how many students to expect.
Staying in touch with Leadership
- Superintendent Alicia Henderson, ahenderson@asd5.org
- Business Office, Elyssa Louderback, elouderback@asd5.org
- Human Resources, David Glasier, dglasier@asd5.org
- Special Education, Rick Bates, rbates@asd5.org
- Career & Technical Education, Lynn Green, lgreen@asd5.org
- Teaching, Learning & Technology, Traci Sandstrom, tsandstrom@asd5.org
Don't forget to check the Instructional Resources page often for updates that may come about from OSPI, especially for high school students.
Next edition
The next edition of the ASD5 e-Newsletter is scheduled to appear Thursday, June 25.
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The Aberdeen School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: David Glasier, Title IX Coordinator and Civil rights Compliance Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2222; dglasier@asd5.org; Dr. Richard Bates, Section 504/ADA Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2017; rbates@asd5.org.